01 Apr Book Review: Ten by Gretchen McNeil

YA horror and thrillers often walk a fine line between campy fun and genuinely chilling suspense, and Ten by Gretchen McNeil lands somewhere in the middle. Inspired by Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, this novel takes the classic locked-room mystery setup and modernizes it with a group of teenagers stranded on an isolated island, a party gone wrong, and a killer picking them off one by one. It is an atmospheric, fast-paced thriller that keeps the tension high and the body count rising.

What’s it about?

The story follows Meg and her best friend Minnie, two high school seniors who have been invited to an exclusive weekend party at a secluded house on Henry Island. The party is being thrown by the most popular girl in school, Jessica Lawrence, and while Meg is not exactly the party-going type, Minnie insists they go. Minnie, who is more outgoing and desperate to be part of the in-crowd, sees this as her chance to finally be accepted. Meg, on the other hand, just wants to keep Minnie happy and get through the weekend without any drama.

When they arrive at the house, they find that the party is not quite what they expected. For one, there are only ten guests—Jessica, Minnie, Meg, TJ (Meg’s longtime crush), and a mix of athletes, popular kids, and social misfits who do not seem to have much in common. Even stranger, their host is nowhere to be found. The atmosphere is already tense, made worse by the fact that there is a raging storm outside, cutting them off from the mainland. There is no cell service, no way to leave, and as the rain pounds against the windows, it becomes clear that they are completely alone.

At first, the weekend seems like it will be full of typical high school drama—exes arguing, jealous tensions, drunken confessions. But then, they find a DVD with a chilling message: Vengeance is mine.

Before they have time to process what it means, one of them turns up dead. The group tries to rationalize it, blaming an accident, but when a second person dies under suspicious circumstances, the horrifying truth becomes impossible to ignore—someone is picking them off, one by one.

Meg, who has always been the quiet observer, suddenly finds herself at the center of a terrifying murder mystery. She begins to piece together clues, realizing that all ten of them share a dark secret from the past, something that ties them together in ways they never expected. But as the killer’s plan unfolds, paranoia takes over. No one knows who they can trust, and every attempt to escape or call for help is thwarted.

As the storm worsens and more bodies pile up, Meg races to uncover the identity of the killer before she becomes the next victim. But the truth is more twisted than she ever imagined, and by the time the final pieces fall into place, she realizes that survival is not just about figuring out who the murderer is—it is about making it through the night alive.

What This Chick Thinks

A modern take on a classic concept

The influence of And Then There Were None is clear from the start, but Ten modernizes the premise with teenage drama, social media references, and a more horror-driven tone. The isolated setting, the storm trapping them on the island, and the growing paranoia all work well to create an eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere.

A main character worth rooting for

Meg is not your typical final girl—she is quiet, thoughtful, and more of a writer than a fighter. But that is what makes her compelling. She is observant, always noticing the small details that others overlook, which makes her the perfect character to piece together the mystery. She is also dealing with her own complicated emotions—her best friend Minnie is volatile and jealous, especially when it comes to Meg’s connection with TJ. Their friendship is messy and imperfect, which adds another layer of tension as Meg tries to survive while also managing Minnie’s unpredictable moods.

A fast-paced, high-stakes read

Once the murders start, the book does not slow down. The kills are gruesome but not overly graphic, keeping the tension high without veering into full horror territory. The pacing is relentless, and the constant guessing about who the killer might be keeps you turning the pages.

Some predictable elements, but still fun

For readers familiar with thrillers, some of the twists might feel a little predictable. There are red herrings, classic horror tropes, and characters who make some questionable decisions. But even when you see some of the twists coming, the execution keeps it entertaining.

Final Thoughts

Ten is a solid YA thriller with a fun, fast-moving plot and plenty of tension. It is the kind of book you can read in one sitting, swept up in the mystery and the urgency of the characters trying to survive. While it does not reinvent the genre, it is an engaging and suspenseful ride that will appeal to fans of locked-room mysteries and high-stakes horror.

If you enjoy stories about isolated settings, creeping paranoia, and a killer picking people off one by one, this is a great choice. It is not a deep psychological thriller, but it is an addictive, fun, and sometimes brutal read that keeps you hooked until the final page.

Rating: 8/10

Try it if you like

• I Know What You Did Last Summer by Lois Duncan – Another YA thriller about past mistakes coming back to haunt a group of teenagers.
• One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus – A mystery with strong character dynamics and shifting perspectives.
• There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins – A slasher-style YA thriller with a mix of horror and romance.